Calfee provides clients with comprehensive and strategic environmental law advice based on our extensive knowledge and experience counseling clients in multiple business sectors. Our practical understanding allows us to address both immediate and longer-term environmental issues for clients. Calfee’s experience with both Ohio and the federal EPA allows us to provide clients with advice based on a clear understanding of how the resolution of these issues will affect their overall business objectives.
Our Environmental Practice is anchored by a former Director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, who bolsters our in-depth knowledge of the environmental landscape with his insights.
We balance our specialized knowledge of various industries with our acquired business acumen to provide comprehensive and strategic counsel. Our attorneys address immediate environmental issues at hand – such as Ohio and federal permitting and compliance counseling, proposed rules and rule changes, and litigation concerns – while working with clients to ensure the best resolution of these issues to help clients meet their overall business objectives.
Our team's core strength stems from four differentiating areas:
Our Environmental Practice represents publicly and privately held corporations, municipalities, public agencies, and trade associations. Our clients are engaged in a variety of businesses including metals manufacturing and finishing, waste disposal and wastewater treatment, real estate development and lending, chemical and plastics manufacturing, industrial gases, paints and coatings, minerals and mining, power production, pipelines, and alternative energy developers.
Chambers USA Leading Law Firm Rankings
Calfee has been recognized by Chambers USA as a Leading Law Firm in Environment in Band 3 in Ohio (2023).
Clients interviewed by Chambers USA researchers stated, "Calfee has proven itself to be the A team every time – they exude professionalism at every level and are two steps ahead of the other side. The team is competent, personable, and works well together, complementing each other's strengths."
U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” Rankings
Calfee was selected for inclusion in the 2023 "Best Law Firms" rankings by U.S. News – Best Lawyers in Environmental Law (Regional Tier 3 Columbus).
Clients
A few of Calfee's Environmental Law clients include:
Recent Work
Brownfield Redevelopment
Calfee has extensive experience in brownfield redevelopment projects across Ohio. Our attorneys have counseled clients on creative redevelopment strategies, which allow clients to redevelop sites in a cost-effective, timely, and protective manner. Calfee also has extensive experience with Ohio’s Voluntary Action Program, the State’s voluntary cleanup program, as well as with CERCLA and RCRA cleanups under both State and Federal oversight. Chris Jones also has served as an expert witness in two major remediation cases.
Solid and Hazardous Waste
The environmental attorneys at Calfee have wide-ranging experience with solid and hazardous waste issues, laws, and regulations. We advise individuals, companies, and municipalities on all laws, guidance, and issues relating to CERCLA (“Superfund”), unregulated hazardous waste sites, hazardous substance inventories, solid and hazardous waste generation, solid and hazardous waste treatment, disposal and transport, RCRA, underground storage tanks, and all state and local legal equivalents.
In addition to compliance counseling, we also defend clients when they fall subject to CERCLA and RCRA enforcement or administrative actions or RCRA negotiations involving the RCRA Penalty Matrix to reduce penalty assessments.
Representative Solid and Hazardous Waste Matters
Water/Wetlands/Air
Litigation and Enforcement Proceedings
Representative Environmental Litigation Matters
The following represents a sample of some of our recent environmental litigation matters:
Calfee’s Environmental Law attorneys are experienced in representing large and small companies on Clean Air Act issues. Our clients’ operations range from steelmaking to manufacturing of chemicals and coatings, metal containers, tires, medical devices, and hot-mix asphalt to hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal. Regardless of the industry, our experience allows us to assist clients with all of their Clean Air concerns – whether proactive or reactive action is necessary.
We help clients respond to questions involving major and minor source permitting issues, permit appeals, agency inspections, and requests for information. We also defend Clean Air Act judicial and administrative enforcement actions. Our areas of expertise include Title V, National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants, New Source Review/Prevention of Significant Deterioration, State Implementation Plans, and Stratospheric Ozone.
Representative Experience
Calfee’s Environmental Law attorneys have extensive knowledge of state and federal water regulatory issues and water quality standards. We counsel companies and municipalities to keep them compliant on all issues related to the Clean Water Act, including Sections 401 and 404 and Ohio isolated wetland permit counseling and negotiation, municipal combined sewer and sanitary sewer overflows control plans, water quality standards, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), and defense of enforcement cases and administrative appeals related to NPDES permits, injection well permits, and 208 Plans.
Representative Experience
Calfee's Environmental team is known as an "experienced practice with a wealth of expertise in environmental litigation, compliance and permitting. Noteworthy experience representing clients in matters involving hazardous waste, site remediation, and cleanup. Also assists clients with the environmental aspects of transactions."
Chambers USA
